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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Van Wood (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Van Wood. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Van Wood is located in Sangamon County.

To see how the shape of Illinois' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sangamon County: Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery & Morgan.

Below are the counties that are near Van Wood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Van Wood:

  • Sangamon County     (The home county of Van Wood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Williamsville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Sherman
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Cantrall
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Spaulding
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
    • Buffalo Hart
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
    • Riverton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Grandview
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Grandview is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grandview
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,369 people
    • Ridgely
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
    • Clear Lake
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Clear Lake is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Lake
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 220 people
    • Dawson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Salisbury
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Salisbury is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salisbury
    • Hawthorne Place
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Hawthorne Place is located in Sangamon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawthorne Place
    • Buffalo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Cass County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Newmansville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Newmansville is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmansville
    • Gurney ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Gurney is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gurney
    • Sylvan ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Sylvan is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan
    • Philadelphia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Philadelphia is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Chandlerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Burlingame
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Burlingame is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Old Princeton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Old Princeton is located in Cass County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Princeton
  • Christian County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Bolivia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Bolivia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolivia
    • Mount Auburn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Edinburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Grove City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Grove City is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove City
    • Tovey
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Tovey is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tovey
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tovey <1>
    • Bulpitt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Kincaid
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Sharpsburg
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Jeisyville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Jeisyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeisyville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 100 people
    • Zenobia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Zenobia is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenobia
    • Langleyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Langleyville is located in Christian County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langleyville
  • De Witt County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Midland City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Midland City is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midland City
    • Kenney
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Tabor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Tabor is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabor
    • Hallsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hallsville is located in De Witt County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallsville
  • Logan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Elkhart
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Middletown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Cornland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Broadwell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Broadwell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadwell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 135 people
    • Lake Fork
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • New Holland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Mount Pulaski
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Chestervale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Chestervale is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestervale
    • Lincoln
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bell
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bell is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bell
    • Hartsburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Evans
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Evans is located in Logan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Chestnut
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
  • Macon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Niantic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Warrensburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Harristown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Mason County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Mason City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Natrona
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Natrona is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natrona
    • Teheran
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Teheran is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Teheran
    • Easton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • San Jose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Kilbourne
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Poplar City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • White City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • White City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Long Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Long Branch is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Branch
    • Forest City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest City is located in Mason County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 222 people
    • Topeka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Menard County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Croft
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Croft is located in Menard County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croft
    • Athens
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Greenview
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Petersburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Tallula
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Oakford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Morgan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Prentice
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Prentice is located in Morgan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentice
    • Alexander
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Tazewell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.
    • Winkel ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Winkel is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winkel
    • Boynton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Boynton is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
    • Delavan
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Burt
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Burt is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burt
    • Brownwood ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Brownwood is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownwood
    • Green Valley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Armington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Richmond
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Richmond is located in Tazewell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Van Wood, see our County-by-County Page for Van Wood.

Cemeteries Near Van Wood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Van Wood.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Van Wood - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Van Wood covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.

  • Fancy Creek Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Stewart Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Walnut Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Brittin Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Kern Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Canterbury Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Strode Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Wolf Creek Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bice Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Indian Point Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Walnut Ridge Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Joel Hall Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (287 more) ...
    • Taylor Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Elkhart Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sugar Grove Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

While we didn't find Van Wood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Van Wood.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Van Wood, with the one closest to Van Wood listed first.

  • Fancy Prairie
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Fancy Prairie is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fancy Prairie
  • Williamsville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Cantrall
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Sherman
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Athens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Spaulding
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Spaulding is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spaulding
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 836 people
  • Barclay
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Barclay is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barclay
  • Elkhart
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Riverton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Buffalo Hart
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Buffalo Hart is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Hart
  • Sweet Water
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Sweet Water is located in Menard County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweet Water
  • Ridgely
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Ridgely is located in Sangamon County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgely
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Middletown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Dawson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Cornland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Van Wood. See our List of 1890's Communities around Van Wood.

Newspapers Published in Van Wood ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Van Wood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Van Wood, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Van Wood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Van Wood:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Van Wood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Van Wood, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.